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Vancouver is an easy city to drive in; its road system is well maintained, well marked and mild winters mean the roads are rarely affected by snow.
Car rentals are conveniently located in airports and many other locations throughout the city. Several rental companies offer pickups from hotels and cruise ship terminals.
Routes to/from Interior BC and AlbertaThe Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) runs from eastern Canada through Calgary, Kamloops and Hope en route to Vancouver.
Highway 5, also known as the Coquihalla Highway, is the express route from the Thompson Okanagan region, merging with Highway 1 in Hope.
Highway 3 approaches Vancouver from the southern Okanagan, travelling across the Cascade Mountains before terminating in Hope and the junction of Highways 1, 5 and 7.
Highway 99 begins at the US border (an extension of U.S Interstate 5) and heads north through Vancouver and Whistler, then northeast until it connects with Highway 97 in BC's Cariboo region.
Routes from the USFrom Washington State, take the I-5 to the Douglas (Peace Arch) border crossing and then follow Highway 99 all the way to Vancouver. Stop at the British Columbia Visitor Centre @ Peace Arch, just a few metres beyond the border, for maps, travel tips and assistance booking accommodation. The drive from the border takes about an hour. Note that border waits can be significant at times, especially on holiday long weekends.
The Canada Border Services Agency has more information on border crossings.
> Canada Border Services Agency website
Routes to/from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine CoastBC Ferries provides scheduled vehicle and passenger service from Vancouver to Victoria and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, as well as to the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast.
> BC Ferries details
Travelling in Winter
The Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast areas see very few snowy days in winter, so roadways are clear virtually all year round. Highway 99, which runs through the mountain resort of Whistler, receives ample snowfall in winter but is constantly maintained: ploughed, sanded and salted when necessary. However, during heavy snowfalls, there may be temporary delays or road closures on Highway 99.
Driving Times to Vancouver
Seattle: 3 hours
Victoria: 3 hours, 30 minutes (including the ferry crossing)
Kelowna: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Prince George: 10 hours
Calgary: 12 hours
Edmonton: 13 hours
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